# A Perfectly Reasonable Amount of Schadenfreude about Things Happening to Trump & His Enablers (Part 2) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [May 19, 2023, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250 "2023-05-19T03:20:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 235
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2024, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/4682 "2024-03-13T21:20:36Z")
To be more precise, I was wondering if Trump gutting the RNC would be _worth the DOJ caring about_. Would there be a national interest in prosecuting people who plunder a political party from within? Or would it be a case of “Hey, you invited the leopards in. So sad about your faces.” ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2024, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/4683 "2024-03-13T21:37:52Z")
Aaaaand taking us back to the thread topic (I mean, guys, I hate the Orange One too, but we’ve got other threads for reviewing all the ways he’s an ass!): [https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/13/politics/arizona-election-threat/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/13/politics/arizona-election-threat/index.html) > [A man who sent a bomb threat in 2021](https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/29/politics/arizona-election-bomb-threat/index.html) to Katie Hobbs, then-Arizona’s secretary of state and now Democratic governor, has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison. With the intimidation efforts likely to only increase, it’s good to see at least some of these scumbags are getting real punishments, even if it’s just threats… mostly… so far… ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2024, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/4684 "2024-03-13T21:45:35Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > But I am 100% certain that we don’t live in a rational country. Yup. People think Trump is charismatic? Have they never seen ANYONE with charm? ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2024, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/4685 "2024-03-13T21:52:29Z")
But he does have it! It’s a weird carnival barker kind of charisma, but when he gives those speeches you can tell he’s having fun. He’s certainly more of a people person than Ron DeSantis ( which is a low bar). ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2024, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/4686 "2024-03-13T22:00:33Z")
By capturing the RNC, Donald has achieved political grifting opportunities second only to occupying the White House itself (and fleecing the entirety of the public coffers). He can get his legal bills paid, house Committee employees at his hotels for wildly inflated rates, even guarantee highly paid no-show jobs in return for campaign contributions. Who’s gonna stop him? Trump knows all the angles and he’s found his home in today’s GOP. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2024, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/4687 "2024-03-13T22:16:52Z")
In general, I’d say that Trump’s case falls into a curious niche that avoids criminality, even though it should. Using your campaign money for personal matters would generally be viewed as misuse. But, since Trump is saying that he’s being politically persecuted and that fighting it in the courts helps to bring attention to the matter, that effectively turns it into political speech. You would need to demonstrate that his statements are insincere, or else he’ll get by on a First Amendment basis. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2024, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/4688 "2024-03-13T22:30:46Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > To be more precise, I was wondering if Trump gutting the RNC would be _worth the DOJ caring about_. Would there be a national interest in prosecuting people who plunder a political party from within? Is it even a crime if the RNC choose to spend their money all on Trump? He’s not stealing it; the co-chairs of the RNC would be willingly paying it to him. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2024, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/4689 "2024-03-13T22:59:51Z")
I’m with @Sage_Rat on this, it’s unfair, unequal treatment, and unethical, but probably not illegal. It might well be in violation of some RNC internal guidelines, but, hey, they can change those if they want, and MAGA has largely finished co-opting the entire former Republican party. So wrong, in so many ways, but probably not illegal and maybe not even in violation of their own self-imposed rules. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2024, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/4690 "2024-03-13T23:16:34Z")
Not sure where to put this, but my immediate reaction to the headline was “Well, there’s some Schadenfreude… they don’t even like each other any more.” # Many Republicans plan to skip House GOP retreat as they grumble about location and spending time with one another > **[Many Republicans plan to skip House GOP retreat as they grumble about...](https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/12/politics/house-gop-retreat/?dicbo=v2-5UDIUTv&hpt=ob_blogfooterold)** > > Many Republicans plan to skip the House GOP retreat as they grumble about both the location and the idea of spending time with one another, with tensions still running high inside the party in the wake of their unprecedented speakership drama. ---
**Author:** ![Jihi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jihi/32/17768_2.png) [@Jihi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jihi)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/4691 "2024-03-14T04:08:07Z")
They are rotting from within. Maybe more are starting to realize it? ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/4692 "2024-03-14T09:43:50Z")
A lot of people might get a zombie bite on the arm, but how many would cut it off? ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/4693 "2024-03-14T12:40:16Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > > [@Akaj](#): > > > > To be more precise, I was wondering if Trump gutting the RNC would be _worth the DOJ caring about_. Would there be a national interest in prosecuting people who plunder a political party from within? > > Is it even a crime if the RNC choose to spend their money all on Trump? He’s not stealing it; the co-chairs of the RNC would be willingly paying it to him. I’m assuming that, since it’s Trump, there would be expenditures that skirted or outright broke campaign finance and other laws. But I’m not assuming the DOJ would care. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/4694 "2024-03-14T13:02:18Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Not sure where to put this, but my immediate reaction to the headline was “Well, there’s some Schadenfreude… they don’t even like each other any more.” According to a couple of reports: > [@](#): > > One lawmaker told reporters for [Axios](https://www.axios.com/2024/03/12/house-republican-retreat-infighting) and [Politico](https://x.com/Olivia_Beavers/status/1767326559302521184?s=20e) this week, in reference to the conference’s retreat, “I’d rather sit down with Hannibal Lecter and eat my own liver.” > **[House Republicans divided over gathering focused on party unity](https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/house-republicans-divided-gathering-focused-party-unity-rcna143357)** > > GOP leaders organized an annual retreat “aimed at unifying the conference.” Most of their members decided not to show up for the gathering. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/4695 "2024-03-14T13:03:40Z")
And we all know how Trump feels about Hannibal Lecter. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/4696 "2024-03-14T13:29:26Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > Their devotion to Trump and their desperate wish that they had someone that charismatic north of the 49th parallel is really striking. I had a similar experience in Belgium. I was there for business and had a car service. Three different drivers went on and on about how great Trump was and how Belgium needed a Trump. Over the last few years I’ve had similar experiences in the UK, Germany, and Austria. It’s not a local phenomenon. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/4697 "2024-03-14T14:26:08Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > For starters, Trump is going to name _someone_ as his running mate pretty soon… I would not be the least bit surprised if Don is turning over and over in his head right now how he can somehow circumvent this from happening. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/4698 "2024-03-14T14:34:09Z")
> [@Donald Trump's mind voice](#): > > There’s nothing in the constitution that says that the President and the VP have to be two _different_ persons… … ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/4699 "2024-03-14T14:48:17Z")
I see we’re applying _Air Bud_ logic to the situation. “There’s no rule saying a player has to be a human.” ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/4700 "2024-03-14T14:51:22Z")
If it wasn’t because pets cannot stand him I bet Trump would be thinking about naming his pet VP. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250/4701 "2024-03-14T14:53:05Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > I see we’re applying _Air Bud_ logic to the situation. Well, it’s nice to have at least _some_ logic around here. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250.md?page=234) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-2/984250.md?page=236)